Exploring Internal Conflict in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Delve into the themes of internal conflict, unrequited love, and loyalty in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet through the characters of Romeo, Juliet, and other key figures. Discover how psychological struggles shape the plot and characters' actions, providing insight into the timeless relevance of teenage romance and societal expectations. Uncover the complexity of emotions, decisions, and relationships within the play that continue to resonate with audiences today.
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Y10 Aiming Higher Lecture Series: No 1 Shakespeare s Romeo and Juliet This lecture will engage with the play Romeo and Juliet to explore the internal conflict characters felt, explore how the play is as much about love as it is about breaking the rules and pushing the boundaries (as all teenagers do). Finally, we will investigate contextual clues from throughout the play with specific quote links in order to clarify how to embed with ease Level 8/9 knowledge and understanding of context with the analysis of the play. If you believe or want to investigate the idea that: Romeo and Juliet s teenage romance is still relevant to the society we live in today then this lecture is the right one for you.
What is internal conflict? How is it shown in the play? Defined as: psychological struggle within the mind of a literary or dramatic character, the resolution of which creates the plot's suspense. The internal conflict we will concentrate on is: Romeo unrequited love for Rosaline Juliet & Romeo Family loyalty versus love for each other Romeo Tybalt as Juliet s cousin and his enemy Lady Capulet loyalty to husband (patriarchal rule) versus love of her child - Juliet
What is internal conflict? How is it shown in the play? Defined as: psychological struggle within the mind of a literary or dramatic character, the resolution of which creates the plot's suspense. However there are also examples from other characters: Lord Capulet s conflict over whether to allow Paris his daughter s hand in marriage, even though she is yet 14 Friar Laurence church versus loyalty to Romeo
Romeo and Rosaline unrequited love, oxymorons and suffering Act 1 Scene 1 Romeo & Rosaline Shakespeare reveals Romeo s heartbroken state of mind through third parties internal conflict shown through his actions stole into the covert of the woods Benvolio, many a morn tears augment the morning dew sit in artificial night Lady Montague, Out of her favour, where I am in love. Romeo to Benvolio supports the idea that Romeo s internal conflict is caused by unrequited love he loves Rosaline but she doesn t love him in turn and this is causing his abject misery and making him act in rash, out of character ways, he is lovesick His internal conflict causes him to speak in an exaggerated way using oxymorons to express his black and portentous mood, everything feels bleak to Romeo at this point, all he can think of is Rosaline s rejection and how this feels: Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!/O any thing, of nothing first create!/O heavy lightness! serious vanity!/Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!/Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire,/sick health! notice also the repetition of Oh as if Romeo has to prefix every feeling with an exclamation to emphasise how utterly miserable he is. It helps show the depth of his feeling.
Romeo and Rosaline unrequited love, morals and pain Act 1 Scene 1 Romeo & Rosaline Shakespeare continues to reveal that Rosaline is not just rejecting Romeo but she has instead sworn to become a nun Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste? compounding his misery, as God is a mighty opponent and Romeo recognises that he is unlikely to be able to change her mind and lead her into the path of temptation as she is so resolute in her wishes and rejection of him!
Romeo and Juliet Love at first sight, the sworn enemy and throwing caution to the wind Act 1 Scene 5 Romeo and Juliet - Romeo Romeo learns of Juliet s parentage: Aside] Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe s debt. The aside structurally represents his internal monologue and shows that he hadn t considered the possibility that loving her would be difficult, perhaps his experience with Rosaline made him rash because Juliet s affirmation of her feelings towards him gave him confidence. He feels his life is now owned by Juliet the enemy, but he doesn t consider giving her up for a moment, showing that his internal conflict is not enough to make him reconsider his feelings, despite them having just met!
Romeo and Juliet Love at first sight, the sworn enemy and throwing caution to the wind Act 1 Scene 5 Romeo and Juliet - Juliet Juliet s response is similar to Romeo in fact it mirrors the use of aside, again reflecting the internal monologue that is immediate when learning he is the enemy [Aside] My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, That I must love a loath d enemy. However, she is more verbose than Romeo, perhaps showing that (as a female) she understands more fully the pain and suffering that this love will cause her family. Shakespeare highlights the patriarchal differences in society here as Juliet seems more aware of the issue with this love.
Romeo and Juliet Love, the enemy and Romeo s impatient and lovesick mannerisms Act 2 Scene 2 Romeo s soliloquy reinforces his earlier lovesick behaviour: He jests at scars that never felt a wound. But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, but rejects Rosaline in favour of Juliet in his metaphorical speech. He shows no evidence of internal conflict over his rejection of Rosaline, in fact, he seems positively in awe of Juliet s ability to light up his life.
Romeo and Juliet The deceit, the future, the plan to marry Act 2 Scene 2 With much haste they agree on the same day that they have met that they will marry the next day. They throw caution to the wind and Juliet tells him: Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honourable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow, inferring that Juliet is responsible for the start of the plan for them to get married; however Romeo doesn t reject this idea - he agrees to it. At this point they are both only concerned with being together. They don t consider the potential consequences of their marriage or how their families might feel.
Romeo and Juliet The Friar as facilitator, good intentions and a marriage to end the ancient grudge Act 2 Scene 3 Friar Laurence has the measure of Romeo For doting, not for loving, pupil mine. showing he knows Romeo was infatuated with Rosaline, perhaps because he couldn t have her. However, in the dramatic irony he agrees as For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households' rancour to pure love. Implying that his intentions are pure, virtuous and morally righteous, despite the prologue foreshadowing the ultimate demise of both Romeo and Juliet. Friar Laurence is not convinced and delivers long monologues to Romeo before agreeing to marry them, showing that he is conflicted by the plan, but ultimately he wants peace in Verona, agreeing to try to help facilitate this peace.
Romeo and Juliet catalytic events, death of a secret kinsman and exile Act 3 Scene 1 The Prince, acting as the law, exiles Romeo making his inner conflict return, he has just married Juliet, killed her cousin Tybalt and been exiled to Mantua, meaning that he can no longer be with Juliet And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence: knowing he was married to Juliet made him hesitate in his reaction to Tybalt and arguably causes the death of Mercutio, as if Romeo had fought him in the first place Mercutio would not have been stabbed. But, without this pivotal moment in the play, the tragic ending would not have happened. Therefore, the death of Mercutio is a catalytic event and noticeably afterwards the pace of the play increases and the action starts to speed up until the inevitable conclusion.
Romeo and Juliet Juliets despair, guilt and misunderstood grief due to Tybalt s death Act 3 Scene 2 Is Romeo slaughter d, and is Tybalt dead?/My dear-loved cousin, and my dearer lord? Initially Juliet thinks Romeo is dead but quickly realises that Romeo lives, while Tybalt is dead. Juliet recognises how her reaction is treacherous, O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!/Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? creating the understanding that she knows Romeo behaviour is reprehensible, but she cannot help how she feels for him. She realises that she should mourn her cousin, Tybalt, and hate Romeo for his murderous behaviour, but she can t. Internal conflict is evident here as she is now aware that both Tybalt and Romeo are villain (s) but she is a three hour wife and still desires and loves Romeo. Meanwhile, her internal conflict is completely misunderstood by her father Lord Capulet.
Romeo and Juliet Point of no return there is no going back Romeo and Juliet spend the night together Act 3 Scene 5 The exchange after they have consummated their marriage reveals the conflict between living apart and death they literally feel like being separated is a life and death choice Romeo states I must be gone and live, or stay and die. While Juliet responds later in the dialogue with Then, window, let day in, and let life out. because in a melodramatic way both feel living apart is like a living death and even though they would have been unable to live together in Verona, they would have been able to sneakily meet. This option is stripped away from them with Romeo s banishment to Mantua.
Romeo and Juliet Marriage, bigamy and a father s wrath Act 3 Scene 5 The consummation causes many issues: if Juliet marries Paris she will be committing bigamy; Friar Laurence can t marry her knowing she is already married; she is not free to give herself to Paris; Paris would feel like a poor substitute for the all-consuming love she has for Romeo. Lord Capulet is initially kind and loving: what, still in tears?/Evermore showering? but as soon as she defies his word he erupts To go with Paris to Saint Peter s Church,/Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither./Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage!/You tallow-face! which is actually a fairly normal father daughter teenage argument. Remember, the dramatic irony inherent in this scene means that Lord Capulet just thinks she is being defiant and difficult, when in actual fact the conflict she feels is as a result of the issues marrying Paris will cause due to her current secret marriage.
Romeo and Juliet Self-preservation, the fatal plan & losing rationality Act 4 Scene 1 Friar Laurence knows that he needs to resolve the issue of the marriage of Juliet to Paris, therefore suggests the poison to stop her from having to marry him Hold; get you gone, be strong and prosperous In this resolve: she immediately agrees and doesn t particularly think of the consequences of these actions. This is partly love for Romeo, self preservation and bloody minded rashness, she appears to have gone from rational and intelligent at the start of the play to rash and unthinking at this point.
Romeo and Juliet Self-doubt, fear & courage Act 4 Scene 3 Juliet s soliloquy vividly shows her internal conflict. She has all sorts of thoughts running through her mind about the intent or Friar Laurence, what will happen and whether she will live: Laying down her dagger What if it be a poison, which the friar Subtly hath minister d to have me dead, Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour d, Because he married me before to Romeo? I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not, For he hath still been tried a holy man. How if, when I am laid into the tomb, I wake before the time that Romeo Come to redeem me? there s a fearful point! Shall I not, then, be stifled in the vault, To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes? Or, if I live, is it not very like, The horrible conceit of death and night, showing that she is highly doubting this course of action, but she does it anyway showing resolve, strength and courage far beyond that of a 13 year old. However, perhaps it is this fact that means she can undertake this horrific act, while not fully comprehending the consequences and ramifications.
Romeo and Juliet Poison, pain and punishment Act 5 Scene 1 As soon as Romeo learns of the death of Juliet, which is again dramatic irony, as the letter failed to arrive in Mantua, he resolves to take poison and die with her, rather than live without her. Clearly, he is irrational and grief stricken, but again his melodramatic nature comes to the forefront Come, cordial and not poison, go with me/To Juliet s grave; for there must I use thee, as his immediate thought is to go to the tomb of his loved one and kill himself to spend eternity with her. He is punishing himself but doesn t realise the grave mistake he is making.
Romeo and Juliet Deception, death and disaster Act 5 Scene 3 Romeo commits another unnecessary, rash act of murder with Paris, but repents by laying him in the tomb with Juliet, however he misses so many clues that she is alive Death, that hath suck d the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:/Thou art not conquer d; beauty s ensign yet/Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,/And death s pale flag is not advanced there. this soliloquy reinforces how blind Romeo appears to be to the truth and reinforces his rash, impulsive nature and the depth of his despair at the supposed death of his beloved. Shakespeare appears to elongate this soliloquy and then speeds up the action as once Romeo dies, Juliet almost immediately wakes and then kills herself. There is no time for internal conflict from either character: both are so moved by the death of the other that they no longer want to live. This could be seen as romantic or foolish and either interpretation would be valid, as they die so young and perhaps needlessly.
Romeo and Juliet What was Shakespeare highlighting with their early deaths? Act 5 Scene 3 Perhaps, Shakespeare was warning against impetuous behaviour and recommending that young people need to exercise more constraint, patience and recognise that they will not always feel so conflicted and that it is a normal stage of life. Perhaps, alternatively it was a recognition by Shakespeare that humans are flawed and will act uncharacteristically and that we need to urge caution and help each other when emotions overrule common sense!
A love worthy of breaking the rules! In what ways do Romeo and Juliet push the boundaries? Are they really rebels or just ordinary teenagers? Romeo incurs the wrath of Tybalt A1S5 by gate crashing the masquerade put on to allow Paris and Juliet to meet and for Juliet to consider her feelings for Paris, scuppering the potential marriage. They both meet secretly: Romeo takes risks by oer perching the wall and sneaking into the grounds of the Capulet mansion. Go against their parents wishes: Lord Capulet wishes for Juliet to marry Paris but she rejects him and this leads to his anger and outrage get thee to the Church a Thursday, or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither Involve the Nurse in the deceit and cover up Involve the church through Friar Laurence in the deceit of the families. Friar Laurence agrees to marry them with the intent that this will end the families ancient grudge , so although his intent is good the position he is in is treacherous! Marry without the family permission: Juliet takes risks in meeting Friar Laurence and arranging to marry Romeo. Romeo sneaks into the Capulet house to consummate the marriage: the marriage could have been annulled had the consummation not taken place, therefore this act was incredibly important and a further example of them rebelling against societal expectations. Even when Romeo is banished Juliet continues to keep the secret of her marriage to herself and doesn t confess to her family. Romeo kills Tybalt (betraying Juliet s family): this results in his banishment to Mantua and the foolhardy plan by Juliet and Friar Laurence to take the poison
How is the play still relevant to todays society? Teenagers rebel today just as they did in Shakespeare s time. Teenager is a relatively recent label but the physical and emotional changes taking place in the bodies of the protagonists would be the same as today. Risk-taking, rebelling against authority, thinking they are right (without fully appreciating the consequences) are traits of the age group 13 24 as discussed by Sarah Jane Blakemore in her book The Secret brain of the Teenager and these behaviours are repeated today. Love and heartbreak as a teenager feels like the world has caved in and ended and this is still experienced the world over. Selfishness and only seeing what you think or feel is important is another trait of being a teenager this still happens today. Rebelling against what your parents tell you. You ll be able to think of examples where you have rebelled against an instruction your parents have given. These are all traits that Romeo and Juliet have and that show the play is still relevant.
How is the play still relevant to todays society? I leave you with the conclusion that Romeo and Juliet is a story that not only helps us understand the constrictions of society at the time but also stands the test of time. Romeo and Juliet teaches us that rebellion against parents, feeling out of place in society and wanting to go your own way is normal, acceptable but that it can have disastrous ramifications. Therefore, stop, think and consider actions before taking them. Although death seems far fetched we have many teen suicides still happening today and this is essentially how the play ends. Two tragic, yet avoidable teenage suicides. For never was there a tale of more woe, than Juliet and her Romeo.
